The Bulldog Breed

The Bulldog Breed

1962 - United Kingdom

A single series of seven comedies starring Donald Churchill as Tom Bowler, an engaging young man with a gift for creating havoc, was created by former Coronation Street producer Derek Grainger and the first episode was written by Peter Eckersley. But for the rest of the series Grainger employed the services of experienced 'Street' writers Harry Driver and Jack Rosenthal. Driver supplied the storylines and Rosenthal put the words in the mouths of Bowler and the rest who included Peter Butterworth, Betty Huntley-Wright, Geoffrey Whitehead and Geoffrey Palmer, all of whom suffer the consequences of Tom, the perennial optimist, as he wanders through life leaving chaos in his wake totally oblivious to the problems he causes for everyone. His girlfriend Sandra somehow manages to find ways of coping with his attitude to life. 

The Coronation Streetlink was completed by giving the co-starring role (that of girlfriend Sandra), for the first time to young Amanda Barrie, later to become 'The Streets' Alma Sedgwick/Baldwin. 

Published on November 30th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Animal Magic

Presented by the inimitable Johnny Morris, the man who not only spoke to the animals, but also for them, Animal Magic was a firm children's favourite on BBC television for no less than 21 years.

Also released in 1962

The Army Game

Hugely successful series from Granada TV that started in 1957 as a fortnightly live sitcom, which was moved to a weekly spot when it became so popular. The series followed the misfortunes of a mixed bag of army conscripts.

Also tagged Sitcom

And Mother Makes Three

Almost a direct follow on from the BBC's hugely popular Not In Front Of The Children starring Wendy Craig who was in an almost constant state of domestic discord...

Also tagged Britcom

Billy Liar

Adapted from the highly successful novel/play/film by successful writing team Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, this version of Billy Liar was updated by them to make it more relevant to the early 1970s.

Also tagged Britcom

All In The Family

British critics have called 'All In The Family' "a reworked, far less provocative version" of the show it was based on, BBC's 'Till Death Us Do Part'...

Also tagged Sitcom

Alice US TV Series

Based quite loosely on the 1974 Oscar-winning film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, this situation comedy centered on Alice Hyatt (Linda Lavin), a widowed mother with a 12-year-old son who leave their New Jersey home to start a new life in Phoenix, Arizona.

Also tagged Sitcom

The Beverly Hillbillies

Classic US sitcom following the adventures of Jed Clampett and his family who, after discovering oil at the back of their Ozark ranch, pack up their things and move to Beverly Hills, much to the consternation of the local populace.

Also released in 1962

Dr Finlay's Casebook

Based on a series of stories 'The Adventures of a Black Bag' by Dumbartonshire born novelist A. J. Cronin, Doctor Finlay's Casebook proved to be an instant hit with viewers in spite of stiff competition from US exports Dr Kildare and Ben Casey.

Also released in 1962

Allo Allo

Created by TV comedy legends Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, who were responsible for some of the longest running sitcoms on British television, 'Allo 'Allo! was a wartime comedy created as a parody of Secret Army.

Also tagged Britcom